Raven Chorus

Many thanks for your kind reply - I really appreciate your words. I will certainly look into the discussion groups you have mentioned. I'm actually already following the Shakti Sadhana mailing list, and I find it useful in many ways. Unfortunately, though, I feel unconfortable at sending my queries by email: I would much rather use the more discrete means of a forum for the purpose. Of course, I agree with you that I am much in need of a guru (who isn't? ), or even of just talking to real Hindus. Hopefully, as I mentioned, I will be taking that step in the next months. I don't think that mine are in any way unrealistic aspirations: I merely wish, sincerely and humbly, to adopt an orthodox form of practice in conformity with Sanatana Dharma. Because, unfortunately, I was born in country where true spirituality seems to have died out quite some time ago...!

Namaste - This is my first post on this wonderful forum, so I thought I might introduce myself. As I am new not only to the forum but also to Hinduism, I was also going to share some of my concerns, hoping that more experienced people might kindly provide some advice. I hope you don't mind me sharing my doubts... For a number of different reasons, I have taken the decision over the last year or so of joining the Hindu fold. As a European, I realise this will be a difficult process - hence my queries. Basically, as someone who has always worshipped the Goddess (i.e. a female form of the Godhead), I am naturally drawn towards shakti sadhana (this is not so much a choice as a necessity for me). As I understand it, what is most important is to develop love of God (bhakti), and to cultivate the worship of the deva(s) we have chosen to worship. What I am doing at the moment is 1) focusing on the shastras I find more relevant to me (Rg Veda and Devimahatmya); 2) trying to pick up some Sanskrit (which I guess will take years to master); 3) reciting prayers to the Devi. It is point 3) I am most concerned about. Not having the knowledge to perform proper puja yet, I am currently spending part of my time reciting the condensed prayer known as the Durgasaptashlokistotra + a couple of mantras to Candika and Kali, offering a few flowers and incense, and listening (to recordings of)/reading the Lalitasahasranamastotra. I realise that at some point I will have to get in touch with a priest, and with other Hindus, and I'm planning on doing so around September (when I will be moving to a different place with a substantial Hindu community). I do have some good friends who are devotees of Krishna, and I get to speak to them quite often, but the Gaudya-Vaishnava approach they follow is rather different from the path I am treading. So I'm just posting this because maybe some of you have been where I am now, and might have a little advice to offer. Am I doing anything wrong in reciting these prayers/mantras and offering incense? Is there anything else I might do (in practical terms) to cultivate knowledge and devotion of the Devi before approaching a temple? I hope all this doesn't come across as silly on my part. Any help/criticism will much be appreciated.